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Melanie Cole (Host):    If you're a parent of a child at any age, you know, this pandemic has been fraught with challenges for kids through out the age groups. Welcome to It's Your Health Radio with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. I'm Melanie Cole and we're giving pandemic tips for parents with younger kids today, as these restrictions are starting to be lifted. Joining me is Dr. Michael Schoenwetter. He's a Pediatrician on Staff at Henry Mayo Newhall hospital. Dr. Mike, thank you so much for joining us today. So, first of all, as a Pediatrician, help us to understand what this pandemic has done to our kids of all the different ages. What have you been seeing as far as how they have responded?

Michael Schoenwetter, MD (Guest): Well, first off, thank you for having me on the show. I appreciate it. It's been quite a challenge and I think you're definitely correct. The difference in the age groups has been dramatic in terms of how the pandemic has affected them. I think the first thing that parents should know is luckily, thank goodness, from a health standpoint, overall, children have done excellent. So, we are blessed in the pediatric field to have the children not been that sick. Most of their infections are asymptomatic or mild. Very few hospital admissions per number of infections. Very few really sick children. There have been some, but overall they've handled it very well, which has been reassuring.

We have a very busy practice and I've only had to admit one child for the entire pandemic, which is remarkable considering this virus. It can be so different for so many different people, but luckily as a whole, the kids have done well. That helps, but on that note, not saying that they haven't been affected because they've been affected dramatically. The isolation, the fear, the anxiety, has really, really taken its toll. The biggest change in my practice so far has probably been the adolescents. And I think they feel the most isolated. And we've seen plenty of them need mental health care. Which luckily now that things are getting better, at least in my part of the world in California, things are starting to lift and they're starting to socialize a little more. And that's helping quite a bit. From a younger kid standpoint, the schools are starting to roll again and kids are getting back in school and obviously, we're starting to see some colds and coughs come out, but nothing real serious and the kids seem a lot happier back together again.

Host: Well, you're certainly right. And have been lucky with the exception of a few, like MISC, those kinds of things. I hear you, you know, our kids have been somewhat spared. And as a parent of two, well, at 21 and 18, I know that this mental health epidemic has been exacerbated by this, but as we're talking about our littler kids, for them, it's about play dates and you know, their kindergarten classes or their Halloween trick-or-treating, everything was different this year.

What would you like parents to know about, as things start opening up, the safety factors? Because it's a little confusing, Dr. Mike, as far as the masks on little kids, outside versus inside, new news, even today, tell us what you'd like us to know about the kids that are about under 10 and what you want us to know about these restrictions as they ease.

Dr. Schoenwetter: Well, I think grouping kids into under 10 is still a pretty big group because the young kids, I think are a completely, when I say young, I mean, toddlers, that's a whole different ball game than elementary school kids. I've had parents in my office say to me, Dr. Mike, my 12 month old has never been around another child. Is that going to affect his development? And I'm not sure. I've never been faced with that issue. I, they seem to be so resilient. They snap back pretty quickly. So, we'll have to wait and see. Luckily there's been some really good news as of late. Being outside seems to be just a great barrier to contracting the disease. So, definitely there was a recent paper by MIT that showed that outside is very safe and that's been kind of the whole thing in the last few months, is that that's been shown to be much harder way to contract it.

So, to get these kids feel play dates outside, I think is, great. They're talking about, you know, playgrounds are opening. I mean, obviously if it's a real crowded playground, you might want to be a little more careful, but these kids need to get outside. And luckily, the numbers here are getting low, so they should be able to do that. Every family has their own levels of anxiety versus the pandemic. And a lot has to do with who lives in their house. Do they have someone in the house with an underlying condition? And obviously that can always make the anxiety levels go up even higher.

But here in California, schools are starting to open. We're starting to get elementary schools back daily. They are wearing masks, but they are having full days in some of the schools out here, the daycares and nursery schools have been in session for a while, mainly for our essential workers and so forth. But they need more. We just missed out on so much and luckily, as of right now, the numbers are good and it's probably time to get them interacting again. Everyone needs to be safe and if we can get the kids to wear a mask, which is not that hard, I think they're getting used to it, especially in groups. It's difficult to get a less than two year old to with wear a mask or even a two to three year old, but those bigger kids, they're all getting used to it and that's going to help decrease the spread as well. But right now, now it's time to move forward and I'm very happy to see my patient population starting to do that. And overall, they're happier. They're just a happier bunch of kids, now that they're back doing some normal stuff.

Host: Well, I can attest to that for sure. My 18 year old is much happier as things start to open up and while our kids are waiting to be vaccinated, if the adults in the house have been vaccinated, and the kids are still waiting, can we be still taking these kids out to places? What about restaurants sitting inside versus outside? I know it depends on the state that you live, but what about the vaccination situation doctor?

Okay.

Dr. Schoenwetter: Well, there's some trials happening right now to hopefully start decreasing the age range so we can get the younger kids vaccinated. The CDC said something even today about vaccinated people can be outside in small groups without masks. So, things are getting better and the vaccine is definitely having an effect. Kids though, it's going to take a little longer. I think we need to follow the guidelines of your state and we're opening up quickly because the numbers getting lower or letting some inside restaurants that are at a lower percentage. But again, outside seems to be the key. It seems to be that it's definitely difficult to contract it outside. And I think that's a great way to start getting people out and interacting, especially these kids. Luckily, we are heading into the spring and the summer months, so we'll be able to interact.

I feel bad for the people on the East coast who goes through such a terrible winter. Us in California have a pretty easy way to get outside. And it's beautiful now. So, if you start to go to the local parks, you're starting to see people on the playgrounds and school sports are starting to open. And I think if the numbers start to go up in a certain way, I'm sure there'll be different restrictions that'll come about, but we need to follow our local guidelines and stay with the plan. But again, I think the real key here is, it's twofold. One is children overall have been healthier. They've done very well with that pandemic. They haven't done perfectly, but they've done very, very well. And number two is outside it's much harder to get it. It's much harder to transmit it and contract it when you're outside. And so those kinds of interactions I think, should be encouraged.

We need to be careful and not have large groups. Still need to talk to your kids about washing their hands and wearing their mask. If they do cough or sneeze, to do the cough or sneeze into the elbow, just like we would in a flu season as well. And keep hammering those points home. As we get more and more of the population vaccinated, I think, we'll start getting back to normal.

Host: So, if our kids want to play with other kids from other families, you're recommending, they can, as long as they do it safely and follow the protocols and do it outside for the most part.

Dr. Schoenwetter: For the most part. Like I said, I have lots of families who are very, very anxious about the pandemic. And I have lots of families that are less anxious. And I think most of my families have found other families that share their level of anxiety and worry and they're spending their time with families in the same level. If that makes sense. But again, small groups, outside. Try to keep the kids trying to wear their mask. And it looks like if we follow those recommendations, it'll keep the spread at a low rate.

Host: Dr. Mike, do you think, and this is just in your opinion, when kids can get the vaccine that they'll be getting them through their pediatrician's offices or in the same ways that we adults have been doing that?

Dr. Schoenwetter: I think they're going to eventually have the primary care physicians take care of the vaccines. It hasn't really been discussed with us directly yet, but vaccinating a young child is a much different issue than vaccinating a cooperative adult. And I'm not sure the pharmacies or even the technicians who are doing the shots are ready to vaccinate a uncooperative two-year-old. And so I think they'll leave that to us who are experts at taking care of that situation.

Host: I agree. I think that's, what a great point you just made. So, as we wrap up, please offer parents your best advice about when you feel it's important that they reach out to their pediatrician for help. If they feel that their kids aren't handling this that well, or they may need a Televisit, or they may need a visit with a counselor. When do you want parents to contact their pediatrician and please offer your best advice for our children as we get on the other side of this thing.

Dr. Schoenwetter: Well, twofold. First medically, do you feel your child is sick? Or having any sort of medical issues, you obviously need to call your pediatrician right away and we'll hopefully be able to guide you with telephone visit, Televisit or a visit in the office. The mental health is a huge deal. And again, I think we need to focus more on the adolescents in that standpoint. There's a change, change their grades, changing what they like to do. If they feel there are things they like to do and stop doing them. If they're a little more withdrawn, less engaged, they probably need a phone call at minimum to the physician. And we'll hopefully be able to evaluate you, in the office on an urgent basis, or get you to a mental health specialist.

Host: Such important information for parents and parents, be sure to share this show with your friends and family, because we are learning from the experts at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital together, and we can all help our kids to get on the other side of this so that we can all do it together. Thank you so much for listening to It's Your Health Radio with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. If you have concerns, we encourage you to check the Henry Mayo website at henrymayo.com and click on the virus link at the top of the page for more info. I'm Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening.